Twitch Payouts – How much do Twitch Streamers Make?

It can take a while before your receive your first payout from Twitch. We'll cover the average time it takes to get paid and just how much money an average small streamer makes.

How Much Do Twitch Streamers Make

There is no set amount that any Twitch streamer makes. Depending on their popularity, sponsorship deals, and personal branding, streamers can make anywhere between $0-$500,000+ per month. A brand new streamer will generally hit their first payout from Twitch between 3 months and 1 year from their first stream. The amount they earn will generally grow over time.

Twitch Affiliate vs Twitch Partner

Generally speaking, Twitch Partners will earn more than Affiliates. While there are certainly exceptions to the rule, those who have reached Partner status have better entertainment value and more viewers than Affiliates. With more viewers and strong communities, Partners are generally able to secure better partnerships with sponsors as well.

How Much Do Twitch Affiliates Make?

Twitch Affiliates earn from Bits, subscriptions, and ads. The amount they earn will vary from streamer to streamer. Most streamers in general will receive bits and subs from 5-15% of their total viewers (anywhere from 50%-125% of their concurrent viewers).

A streamer’s first Twitch payment is usually between $100-$150. It generally takes longer to receive your first payment than it will take for future payments. From their first payment, streamers will typically start earning between $100-$1000 until they make Partner. Active Partners will typically earn $500+ depending on their content and the size of their community.

Twitch Payout Fees

While Twitch doesn’t charge payout fees, there will be a small processor fee taken from your payment that goes to the third party that manages payouts. You should also account for paying Twitch taxes in the future.

How much do Smaller Twitch Streamers Make?

Before reaching Twitch Affiliate, accounts don’t make much money. They can’t earn through subscriptions or bits, so will need to monetize through a third-party program, such as Streamlabs or Patreon. Many viewers are less likely to support a streamer through a third-party as using Twitch bits and subscriptions are easier.

Typically, the metric holding a streamer back from getting Affiliate status is concurrent viewership. With few viewers and no direct way to donate, most affiliates struggle to get donations. While there are exceptions when whales visit a small streamer, you shouldn’t expect to start earning money until after you have reached Affiliate status.

How Does Twitch Pay You?

In order to get paid by Twitch, you will need to enter your tax information onto the site and agree to the Twitch Affiliate agreement. When you reach a payout threshold of $100 USD or more, Twitch will pay you through one of the following methods:

Direct deposit/ACH

PayPal

Wire Transfer

Check

You can also choose to hold the payments until you are ready to receive them.

How Much a Streamer Makes Per Bit

Streamers earn $.01 USD per bit. If a streamer doesn’t live in the USA, they will be paid the equivalent in their currency based on the current transitional value. Every 100 bits equals $1 USD.

How Much a Streamer Makes Per Ad

Twitch partners earn about $250 monthly per 100 subscribers, according to CNBC. Affiliates will not earn as much. The amount varies depending on how many viewers are in the channel as well as how many of them are using Adblock on Twitch.

How Many Twitch Followers Do you Need to Make Money?

While there is no golden number of followers where you start making money the real answer lies in your concurrent viewers. If you are holding an average of 15-20 viewers for the duration of a stream it is quite common to pick up 1-2 subs and a few bits each stream. As your channel continues to grow, these subs will add up and, eventually you will make a decent side income.

Twitch Bits vs Twitch Subs

Twitch Bits can be classified as “tipping” in that they can be donated at any time and for any amount. Subscriptions are paid for once per month and can be seen as a more reliable payment amount for a streamer. While some subscriptions will be canceled and Twitch Prime will expire, many people will subscribe and allow it to continue throughout a streamer’s career.

Are Bits Worth More Than Subscriptions?

Dollar for dollar spent by the viewer, a streamer will earn more through Twitch bits over Subs. To illustrate this, one viewer can sub to a channel for 4 months for $20. The streamer will make half of that amount, $10. Another viewer can purchase 1500 Bits for $20, which would be worth $15 to the streamer.

That being said, multiple subscriptions unlock emotes slots for the streamer, making their channel more enticing to new subs over time. Helping someone build a community can be more valuable to a streamer when they are just starting out.

Do People Generally Donate Bits or Sub to Twitch Channels?

Bits are common early on in a streaming career as they don’t have the same barrier of entry as a sub. Viewers can donate smaller amounts with one of the most common donations being 100 bits. While it is not uncommon for a new streamer to make 50% of their first earnings from bits this percentage drops as the channel grows. Once your community builds and you have recurring subs and regular viewers who gift subs, this will become the main source of income.

Does Twitch Make Money Off of Donations?

While Twitch will make money from Bit purchases and subscriptions, they do not make money off of donations through third-party companies. You may have to pay a commission to the third-party company, but several (such as Streamlabs) waive fees for donations.

How Does Twitch Make Money?

Twitch primarily makes money through advertising on Affiliate channels and through revenue from Bit sales and subscriptions.

Can You Make a Living on Twitch?

With dedication, correct branding, entertainment value, and a little luck, you can earn a living on Twitch. It isn’t as easy as turning on your computer and pressing the “Go Live” button. You have to find creative ways to grow your audience and work with sponsors.

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Luci

Luci is a novelist, freelance writer, and active blogger. A journalist at heart, she loves nothing more than interviewing the outliers of the gaming community who are blazing a trail with entertaining original content.